September 13-16, 2023
Southern Albania
We just finished up our quick, 3-night stay in Corfu Greece. Truthfully, the only reason Corfu ended up on our itinerary was so we could catch a ferry to Saranda, on the Albanian Riviera.
After some research back home, I found that a ferry from the Greek island of Corfu is the best and most direct way to get to the far south of Albania. So, Corfu it was.
And besides being a convenient gateway into Albania, Corfu just happens to be a UNESCO World Heritage Center, so we knew it had a lot going for it, besides its cute white cats.
Historically, Corfu goes back to the 8th century BC and to the Byzantine period. It’s been subject to various influences and a mix of different peoples. From the 15th century, Corfu was under Venetian rule for some four centuries, then passing to French, British and Greek governments.
Because of it’s long Venetian rule, Corfu is unique in Greece due to the pastel buildings seen everywhere, rather than the whitewashed buildings usually seen in Greece.
Corfu Town
I certainly cannot complain about our detour to this small Greek island. It was certainly a bit more glamorous than Istanbul, in an upscale shopping, beautiful-people kind of way. It’s not our typical scene, and a bit more pricey than we would have liked, but it was picturesque and had a lovely appeal.
We stayed in the heart of Corfu Town, in a comfy and cozy apartment in a very central location.
About Town
Corfu Town is a shoppers paradise, with lots of unique and trendy little shops dotted all over the waterfront part of town. The charming, narrow streets looked more like paths from a ferry tale, with ivy and flowering plants draped everywhere, and old stone buildings with lots of character.
Here and there we’d see colorful laundry hanging high above us, strung between buildings or across the narrow streets, which just added to the charm of this magical place.
There was a shoemaker, an incredible bakery, unique jewelry shops, coffee shops, and lots and lots of restaurants. There were also lots and lots of tourists, all dressed in cute gauze dresses and sandals, with their tans and cute accessories.
A Fashion Icon
And there I was in my Columbia quick-dry shorts and one of five tops that I packed for our 53 days. Not so cute or trendy, but I’m also not lugging a giant suitcase everywhere I go. 😂 Oh, and I do have my new blue hat that is pretty cute, if I do say so myself.
The Old Fortress
We meandered through the very crowded streets over to the Old Fortress, a mammoth fort built on a peninsula that juts out into the Ionian Sea.
As impressive as the fort looked, when we saw multiple huge tour buses waiting and/or dropping off their passengers, the very long line for tickets, and the masses of people milling about out front, we decided it would be best to return tomorrow morning, nice and early.
Turns out the port of Corfu is a cruise ship stop, and obviously the Old Fortress was a big draw.
Next Day, 9 am
After cooking up some breakfast and making some delicious espresso in our very own kitchen, we headed back to the Old Fort and had it practically to ourselves.
We climbed all the way up to the top of the fortress, and the views we were rewarded with were mesmerizing. Towards the Ionian Sea, the clouds decided to cooperate and made a canvas like no other. In the opposite direction we had a sweeping view of the entirety of Corfu Town.
After a thorough romp around the Fortress, we were more than ready for a swim. Our Airbnb host gave us the goods on a nice swim spot in town where many locals go, so off we went.
A Dip To Cool Off
The water was beautiful. It’s cool as you get in, but when it’s 83 and muggy out, it feels great. I’m so glad I brought my $5 water shoes that I bought last year in Turkey. They really saved my tired out feet on the pebble shoreline, even if they are dayglow green and a bit cheap looking. They get the job done.
Wins and Losses
Wins
Having a kitchen was such a big win!
Getting a quick taste of Corfu was great fun. Now we have to come back and visit the whole island to see all the beautiful beaches up north that we missed this time.
Losses
It’s day 16 of absolutely no toilet paper in the toilet. As in, do not flush the tp ever. The Turkish, Greek, and now Albanian sewage systems are not equipped for any paper products.
I will say it’s usually not a big deal, but sometimes it is. Haha…I’ll leave that to your imagination.
Love the post mom! That cloud photograph is beautiful!
Yeah, it sure was amazing!